Terminal bank.



J. N. REYNOLDS.

TERMINAL BANK.

APPLICATION FILED MAYI9, 1913.

Patented Nov. 30, 1915.

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Al /y COLUMBIA PLANGGRAPH 60., WASHINGTD TED STATES PATENT @EFTQE.

JOHN N. REYNOLDS, OF GREENVJICH, CONNECTICUT, ASeIGNOR TC W'ESTERN ELECTRIC COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPGBA'IIION OF ILLINOIS.

TERMINAL BANK.

App1ication filed May 19, 1913.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JOHN N. REYNOLDS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Greenwich, in the county of Fairfield and State of Connecticut, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Terminal Banks, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description.

This invention relates to terminal banks and brush sets for use therewith, and the object is to provide a compact and etticient structure of this kind, and it particularly relates to a structure of this kind by means of which sets of four terminals each are provided.

Referring to the drawings Figure 1 is a front elevation of a portion of a panel bank. Fig. 2 shows four terminal strips and the insulating sheets therebetween arranged in spaced relation. Fig. 3 is a plan view of a set of terminals with the brush set for use therewith. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 5 is a cross-section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3, showing the brushes tripped and in transit from one set of contacts to the next.

In the drawings, 1, 2, 3' and at represent the terminal strips of a set having the multipled contacts a, b, c and (Z respectively. The ears or contacts upon each metallic strip form multiple terminals of the same conductor on both sides of the board so that each line may be accessible to brush structures on each side of the board. The contact terminals a, b, 0 and (Z constitute one set and are so arranged that the terminals a and 0 are arranged in superposed relation, but slightly staggered so as to throw the contact edge of each to the left and right respectively, of the unengaged portion of the other. The terminals Z) and (Z are arranged on opposite sides of the pair of terminals a and 0, and are spaced laterally therefrom in a manner to allow the passage of a brush between each and the adjacent terminals (1 and c. Any suitable structure may be employed for the movable elements of the switch, that shown involving a longitudinally movable shaft 5 on which is mounted a plurality of insulated spring arms 6, 7, S and 9. These arms are provided at the outer ends thereof with brush structures which consist of blocks or shoes of insulating material 10 having their inner faces slightly curved. In these curved faces near the center thereof Patented N 30, 15315.

Serial No. 768,647.

are placed inserts of conducting material which may be formed as continuations of the spring arms 6, 7, 8 and 9 respectively, or of separate strips of conducting material electrically secured to said arms in any desired manner. The brushes are caused to traverse the contacts in the terminal banks by the longitudinal movement of the shaft or rod 5.

The cam like insulating shoes 10 of the brushes are of a size such that they bridge the distance between adjacent terminals in their respective series. This is particularly essential with respect to the two series a and 0 of the middle row of terminals. By referring to Fig. 5, it will be noted that the brushes when in transit from one terminal to the next have a tendency to drop into the depression between adjacent terminals, and were it not for the contour of the shoe 10, each of the two innermost brushes would engage each of said contacts a. and c in the adjacent series. As it is, the conducting strip 11 provided for engagement with the terminals 0 would slightly approach, but would be prevented from engaging the contacts a by one of the shoes 10, and in the same manner the brush provided for en gagement with the terminals a would be prevented from engaging the contacts 0.

One of the advantages of this invention is that it allows a panel board to be constructed, having either three or four terminal contacts per set, by the use of the same metal punchings, and also allows the use of the same brush set without mat rial alteration, with the exception that the inner brushes 7 and 8 would be electrically connected when used with a three terminal structure, while when used with a four terminal structure they would be insulated one from the other.

I claim:

1. In a switch, series of contacts and a brush for each' series arranged to traverse the contacts thereof, each of said brushes being provided with a cam like shoe of insulating material which bridges the space between adjacent contacts of its series and prevents said brush from entering the space between them.

2. In a switch, two series of contacts, the contacts of said series being arranged alternately in superposed but slightly staggered relation, a brush for each series arranged to traverse the contacts thereof, each of said brushes being provided with a cam like shoe whereby itis prevented from entering the space between adjacent contacts of its series and engaging the contacts of the other series.

3. In a telephone switch, in combination'a row of terminals, said terminals being arranged in staggered relation, and two brushes cooperating with said row and contacting in their"tra'vel with'altern'ate terminals, respectively. 7 I r 7 4. In a telephone switch, in "combination rows of terminals, a set of brushes, 531d brushes being greater 'innumber "than'said arranged in staggered relation, and two brushes cooperating with theltermin'a'ls :of

said last mentioned row and contacting in their travel with alternate terminals, respectively. I

5. In a selector the combination or" three rows of terminals and a set of four brushes, the terminals of the inner row being in staggered relation, two of the brushes cooperating one with each of the outer rows and the-other two brushes cooperating with the inner row one on either side thereof, and each of the latter brushes contacting in its travel with alternate terminals.

In witness whereof, I hereuntosubscribe my name this 15th da-yof May A. D., 1913.

JQHN N. REYNGLDS. 'l/Vitnesses W. F. HOFFMAN, W. H. BROWN.

Copies of this patent may toe-obtained for fivecentsie'a-ch, hy-addressing" the Commissioner ofia'tents,

Washington, D. C. 

